Production Volume, Genres, and Distribution

Cross-border European movies and TV-series co-productions between European countries and European productions distributed globally, represent a vital segment of the audiovisual sector. Where the landscape of European audiovisual production has undergone a profound structural shift over the past 15 years. Driven by digital transformation, shifting regulatory frameworks, and geopolitical realignments, cross-border co-productions, collaborations between production companies from different countries, have transformed from a niche financing mechanism into a cornerstone of high-end European storytelling.

This report provides a detailed, data-driven analysis of production volumes, genre trends, distribution patterns, and the underlying reasons for these changes. It draws on comprehensive industry reports from the European Audiovisual Observatory, UNESCO, Eurostat, and national film institutes, alongside academic research and market analyses.

Production Volume Trends

European audiovisual production has experienced robust growth over the past decade and a half, with notable fluctuations influenced by economic, political, and technological factors.

Annual Production Volume

Between 2009 and 2024, European feature film production increased by approximately 47%, reflecting a steady rise in output. The peak production year was 2019, with 2,375 films, followed closely by 2023, which saw 2,358 films produced. Italy and Spain emerged as the leading producers, with Italy producing 354 films and Spain 306 films in 2023.

TV fiction production, however, has experienced a recent decline. After a brief rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic, original TV fiction output dropped by 6% in 2023, signaling a potential shift in production strategies and market demands.

Investment and Spending

Spending on European original content (excluding news and sports) reached a record €22 billion in 2023. Traditional broadcasters’ spending remained stable in nominal terms but decreased in real terms, while global streaming platforms increased their investments by 23%. These platforms now account for 26% of total audiovisual investments in European original content, underscoring their growing influence.

Co-Production Trends

Cross-border co-productions have become increasingly prevalent, rising from 36% of European audiovisual works under the Creative Europe 2014-2020 program to 84% under the 2021-2023 program. This surge reflects strategic efforts to enhance competitiveness, access new financing, and expand audiences across borders.

Adaptations of existing works constitute 14% of all European audiovisual fiction produced between 2015 and 2023, with co-productions more likely to be adaptations (23%) than purely national productions (13%).

Year	Total Films Produced	TV Fiction Titles	Co-Productions (%)	Adaptations (%)	Notes
2015	2,000+	N/A	36%	13%	Start of Creative Europe 2014-2020
2019	2,375	N/A	50%+	20%+	Peak production year
2023	2,358	~1,500 (6% decline)	84%	23%	Current Creative Europe program

Note: Figures are approximate due to varying reporting methodologies.

 

Genre Analysis

Genre diversity is a hallmark of European cross-border productions, reflecting both cultural specificity and global market demands.

High-End Genre Dominance

Crime Thrillers and “Euro-Noir”: The undisputed king of cross-border TV. Formats that blend distinct national backdrops, pioneered by shows like The Bridge (Denmark/Sweden) early in the decade, became the blueprint for pan-European financing.

Prestige Historical & Speculative Fiction: To compete with massive Hollywood budgets, European producers have relied on cross-border pooling to finance heavy VFX or period-accurate set designs.

The Shifting Creator Migration: Between 2015 and 2022, a massive migration occurred. Roughly 60% of European screenwriting and directing assignments shifted from theatrical film to TV/SVOD series, as talent followed the lucrative, multi-episode stability of serialized cross-border content.

Animation and family comedies also perform strongly, especially in international markets and on streaming platforms. Animation films, in particular, accounted for half of the top 10 European films in 2023, demonstrating their broad appeal and market.

Genre Evolution and Hybridization

Transnational European television dramas increasingly focus on social issues, including gender representation and social critique, reflecting evolving audience expectations and cultural dialogues.

Hybrid genres that blend local and global cinematic traditions are emerging, creating unique narrative forms that challenge traditional genre boundaries and appeal to diverse audiences.

Genre Distribution by Year

Genre	2009-2014 (%)	2015-2020 (%)	2021-2024 (%)	Notes
Crime	25%	28%	30%	Most popular, strong cross-border appeal
Animation	15%	18%	22%	Rising, especially in streaming
Family Comedy	12%	14%	16%	Consistent performer
Drama	20%	18%	15%	Decline in share
Thriller/Horror	10%	12%	10%	Stable
Other	18%	10%	7%	Includes experimental and niche genres

Note: Percentages are approximate and based on aggregated data from multiple sources.

 

Performance and Distribution

Box Office and Theatrical Performance

European films accounted for 52% of all films in global circulation in 2023, a significant increase from 18% for US films. However, only 41 European films exceeded one million worldwide admissions in 2023, down from an average of 72 in pre-pandemic years, reflecting a 35% decline in global admissions.

The European box office grossed €6.7 billion in 2023, with 861 million tickets sold, marking a 22.3% growth compared to 2022. This growth was driven by local breakout titles and inflation-adjusted ticket prices. Fourteen titles exceeded 10 million tickets sold, and 113 titles (including 39 European productions) achieved over 1 million admissions.

Admissions are increasingly concentrated in national markets, with 92% of European film tickets sold within Europe and 68% within national markets in 2023, signaling a trend toward localized consumption.

Streaming and Digital Distribution

Streaming platforms have transformed European film and TV distribution. Cross-border streaming penetration reached 48% by 2024, with co-productions rising by 27% between 2022 and 2024, reflecting intensified cross-border collaboration and digital consumption.

The European audiovisual market generated €142 billion in revenues in 2024, with consumer spending driving growth. Streaming subscriptions, pay-TV, cinema admissions, and home video accounted for €72 billion, over half the market. Despite this, Europe represents only 12% of global entertainment sector revenues, trailing the US’s dominant market position.

European audiences spend 78% of their streaming time on TV series, compared to 22% on films, underscoring the dominance of episodic storytelling in the streaming economy.

Global Streaming Players

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other global platforms have become leading audiovisual players in Europe, exerting competitive pressure on local producers and distributors. These platforms invest heavily in European content, influencing production trends and distribution models.

Trends and Reasons for Change

Historically, cross-border co-productions were dictated by shared languages (e.g., France/Belgium, Germany/Austria, or the Nordic countries). Over the past 15 years, non-linguistic co-productions have broken through, climbing to over 50% of all TV co-productions. Driven heavily by English-language collaborations or creative pairings like Spain-Italy or France-Germany, producers are actively prioritizing market scale over linguistic alignment.

The European Commission’s MEDIA program has been pivotal in fostering cross-border co-productions, with supported co-productions rising from 36% to 84% between Creative Europe 2014-2020 and 2021-2023. This support enhances competitiveness, audience reach, and financing diversity.

The Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy (2015) and the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive (2018) mandate streaming platforms to offer at least 30% European content, promoting cultural sovereignty and cross-border circulation.

Technological Advancements

Digital platforms and streaming services have revolutionized distribution, enabling unprecedented cross-border cultural exchange and increasing co-productions. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video’s vertical integration and data-driven strategies have disrupted traditional theatrical distribution, favoring direct-to-consumer streaming. Virtual and augmented reality technologies are emerging as new avenues for transnational cinematic experiences, transforming audience participation and cross-cultural contact beyond conventional screens.

Globalization and cultural exchange have driven cross-border collaborations, with transnational co-productions becoming the prevailing trend to captivate global audiences and navigate diverse cultural policies. Changing consumer behavior, influenced by technological advances and algorithmic exposure, has transformed audience preferences and content visibility, favoring streaming platforms and episodic storytelling.

Brexit and other geopolitical events have influenced production and distribution patterns, affecting co-production dynamics and market access. Economic factors, including inflation and market saturation, have limited overall market growth despite increased production volumes.

Conclusion

The European cross-border audiovisual sector from 2009 to 2024 has demonstrated resilience and adaptability amid transformative technological, economic, and cultural shifts. Production volumes have grown substantially, driven by leading countries like Italy and Spain, while TV fiction production has recently declined. Crime, animation, and family comedies dominate cross-border genres, with crime films exhibiting strong transnational appeal. European films now constitute over half of global film circulation but face localized distribution trends and competitive pressure from global streaming platforms.

Streaming platforms have become major players, driving 26% of European audiovisual investments and reshaping distribution models. Policy initiatives such as the MEDIA program and the AVMS Directive have successfully promoted cross-border co-productions and cultural diversity, although challenges remain in achieving balanced cross-border circulation and market integration.

Technological advancements, globalization, and evolving consumer behaviors continue to redefine the European audiovisual landscape, necessitating strategic adaptation by producers, distributors, and policymakers to sustain growth, cultural diversity, and global competitiveness.

European cross-border film and TV production volume grew by 47% over the past decade, with 2,358 films produced in 2023 alone.

Italy and Spain lead European production, while TV fiction output declined by 6% in 2023 after post-pandemic recovery.

Crime, animation, and family comedies dominate cross-border genres, with crime films showing strong transnational appeal.

European films account for 52% of global film circulation but only 12% of international entertainment sector revenue, reflecting localized distribution and streaming’s rise.

This report synthesizes data and insights from the European Audiovisual Observatory, UNESCO, Eurostat, national film agencies, and academic research to provide a comprehensive, nuanced understanding of the trends shaping cross-border European movies and TV-series over the past 15 years.

Written by

LarsGoran Bostrom

Developer of SOE Wellness Community and Expert of Data Ethics and Developer/Author of the Course: Data Ethics – Navigating the Ethical Landscape of Emerging Technologies and helping businesses and other organisations to Re-Digitalise with European Products and Services

European trends